Astrid spends her days trying to be bigger. She reaches her arms to the sky and says “See how big I am today, Mama!” and I always agree that yes she must have been growing the whole time she was sleeping last night. It’s also a good way to get her to go to bed very, very early – ‘if you sleep now you will grow to be SOOO big.’ (This also works for long naps…take notes)
Her growth is marked by items she can now reach that she could not just weeks ago, being able to see over a retaining wall on our daily walk, and no longer receiving the typical head bonk as she speeds past the dining room table.
So as we celebrate Astrid’s ‘bigness’ it always catches me by surprise when she crawls onto my lap and softly says “I’m your baby today, Mommy” and “I’m really just so tiny – see I still fit in your lap perfect.”
And I kiss and hug her up until she slides down and away to show me something again that ‘she’s big at.’
Because when you’re 2 – being big is a very big deal.
Until you’re 9 and then you get to hear “you’re big enough to know better” and “you can reach that so help your sister” and “you have to set a good example for the younger kids.”
And then you sometimes have to remind your mother that truly – “you are only 9″ and I have to apologize because while 9 is big. It’s not that big. Except for when you want it to be really big…because at 9 you can still just be big when it’s convenient.
Which brings me to my question – when I do something clearly stupid and I try to say “but I’m only 43″ why don’t my kids cut me any slack. So when you’re 43 you always have to be big? Sometimes that sucks. I wonder if my 89 year old grandma will let me be little just for one day.
Hmm, I totally going to try that on my kids. “But I’m only 30.” I wonder if that would get me out of cleaning. And cooking. And everything else that I don’t feel like doing.
Kimberly recently posted..Relaxing Days and Flexible Schedules
Astrid is a living doll!
And your girls are going to loves these photos one day.
Enjoy 43, there’s so much more responsibility once you hit 44. That’s when you have to really be a grown-up.
m.
Mark recently posted..Pillow Talk
I’ve heard that 44 is just dreadful with all the extra chores! Maybe you should come take care of me until December?
Gorgeous pics of a gorgeous girl. Nine is far to big. I think about it all the time when mine crawls into my lap, and I too think back to when he was two and fit just right. So, fast…it all goes by so fast…
Vinobaby recently posted..Win Confessions of a Scary Mommy for Mother’s Day!
Ugh…my 9 cannot even try to crawl in anymore – she’s nearly 5 feet tall and hangs out all over the place. Crazy.
Gorgeous – i just say … i can’t help it, I’m old!
By Word of Mouth Musings recently posted..Pawcurious A Muse and a Meme
LOL – I love you, my hot old friend. xo
Ohmygosh those pictures! Beyond adorable. And now I need to find a red petticoat to wear under my skirts this summer.
I’ve thought about that – what a sweet little surprise to wear…
Stunning pictures. She is becoming more beautiful everyday with a personality to match!
Oh so lovely!
Just that, lovely.
( Also, big news! I declare you little for the day! #Powerful)
xo
Galit Breen recently posted..About Noticing
YAY – I did nothing all day…but BOY am I in trouble now!
Astrid and my Molly are similar in so many ways. Some days Molly wants to be a big girl and as soon as I start playing along with her- doing “big girl” things, she says “But I’m really a BABY!” I feel the same way about her…she’s definitely on the brink of losing that last bit of baby inside her. I’m happy to indulge her when she wants to be “small.”
Also, gorgeous pictures as always!
ML@My3LittleBirds recently posted..Three
Simply gorgeous, pics and all. And, yes, sometimes it absolutely sucks to be big.
Nicole DeZarn recently posted..If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t NOBODY Happy!
I say you get to be little for the day!!
angela recently posted..A Bedazzled Dream Day
Why ARE we 43 year olds expected to be big all the time? I like your idea…we need a little exemption.
Yes. 43-year-olds unite in littleness!
We shall gather and wear sundresses and go barefoot like Astrid.
(But can we still have wine? Because I do enjoy that part of being big. Maybe just a mimosa…)
julie gardner recently posted..Today call me enough
I currently have wine in my sippy cup…wheeeee…
She is adorable and you are adorable and there is just too much adorableness going on over here.
Oh, and any time you want to be little come on over. You’re welcome to curl up on my lap anytime.
xo
christine recently posted..An Old Glass
I think you’re trying to hit on me – and I accept.
I too forget that the 8 year old is still only 8.
These photos could not be more precious. But look at those long legs!! Ack!
Elaine recently posted..Matching Umbrella
Oh the long legs. I swear Eloise’s go up to her chin.
We need to get your 89-year-old grandmother and my 89-year-old grandmother together and hang out feeling ageless.
(Playing cribbage?)
XO
julie gardner recently posted..Today call me enough
I am truly thinking that the four of us should get together. Wouldn’t that be a hoot.(do people still say hoot?)
She is an absolute angel! What a beautiful child! Just wait until shes 12 and wants to be 17 & be allowed to do what a 17 year old can do! lol
OMGosh. She is so cute. James is the same way. He wants to be so big. Why? I wish they could see the value in being little.
Jennifer recently posted..Saved by Grace
Oh my gosh! Why didn’t I think of that (scribbling notes furiously). I will be telling my Mr. Man that he must take many naps and go to bed early if he wants to be big. Do you think 11 weeks old is too early to start this?
What a gorgeous Astrid you have!
LOL – it’s never too early for extra sleep!
She is completely adorable!
Janelle
The thing about being “big” is that you smack your head on things. A lot. Someone asked if I had cut my head shaving . . . no, I walked past a pointy light fixture, and I’m a klutz.
I, seriously, cannot fathom a 6-foot+ toddler . . . I mean, it’s a win if I survive the day without a concussion. If you threw my son’s insecurity on his feet with my height, it’d be bad.
John recently posted..Where I recount an evening trip for ice cream
I’ll allow you to be little again, my dear sister-wife.
Astrid is beautiful. She and my Monkey, yes?
Oh they are totally hooking up – when they are 43.
She is so darn cute Tracy!
Astrid is so adorable. She’s growing up quickly. Your trick about telling her she grows while she is sleeping reminded me that I used to tell my youngest he was magic & could pee any time he tried….so he could ‘go’ any time I needed him to
Now that my children are teenagers it’s fun to reveal some of the ‘tricks’ I used on them when they were little. A mom needs those little helps. Thanks for sharing your life-experiences.
She is so super cute. I think that my youngest has a complex about being small because he is small – short and squat is what I like to call him – whereas his older brother towers over him. The sweetest is what he asks me if he can do certain things when he grows bigger like open the tool box or use my crutches. He likes to remind me too that he’s a big boy, not a baby or a toddler anymore. When did they get so big?
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Finding Time for Fitness
I like this. I’m right on the heels of 39. I want to try “I’m not even 40 yet, gimme a break!”
I love love love these photos, she is simply beautiful.
dysfunctional mom recently posted..Sexy Chick
Beautiful girl. Beautiful words.
Happy to have found my way here.
I’m totally trying the, “If you go to bed now, you will grow SOOO big!” tonight on Lil’ Bit. Girlfriend has been bucking her bedtime something fierce this week.
Other than that, I just wanted to say I love this post and can totally relate. I often don’t want to be big anymore.
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..Close Encounters of the Celebrity Kind